The Green Bay Packers' defense continues to overachieve in the first year of the Jonathan Gannon era. Their pass rush has excelled despite being down some key pieces, including superstar OLB Micah Parsons.
Parsons is still nursing a season-ending ACL injury, and while he just got back to practice, he's been limited to individual drills and will take as much time as he needs to make his season debut. Apparently, he's targeting Thanksgiving's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
Nevertheless, that date isn't set in stone, and it definitely didn't come from him. That's why, when asked about it, Parsons' cryptic message left the fans wanting more, but it was for all the right reasons.
Packers star Micah Parsons doesn't want to give up too much info about his recovery
“I don’t wanna say too much because, you know, even if I did play, I don’t want them to game-plan for it,” Parsons said (h/t Matt Schneidman). “I just want it to be a surprise, and I just want it to be a fulfilling moment for myself, the staff and just to enjoy that day and not put too much pressure on that day.”
Football is a game of inches, but it's also all about the little things. The devil is in the details, and Parsons knows that facing a team like the Rams will be challenging enough without him tipping off Sean McVay about his status.
If anything, Parsons will let the Rams gameplan for both scenarios and keep them guessing. That's not great news for the fans, and it might lead to some sensationalist headlines and speculation, but it actually makes perfect sense.
Parsons has made it loud and clear that he will only play once he feels like he can be his usual self. This is obviously frustrating, and it's taken longer than expected, but this is the best way to not only help the team but also think about the bigger picture.
The Packers didn't trade for him just for last year and this season. He's just entering his prime, and even though these injuries aren't as career-threatening as they used to be, he and the team are doing the right thing by taking all the necessary precautions with his recovery.
Even if he does play, he'll most definitely be in a strict pitch count in Week 12. Moreover, it might be a while before the Packers give him the green light to play the majority of the snaps; they'll most likely just ramp him up slowly to get him ready for the playoffs.
Fortunately, and against all odds, the Packers have done pretty well in his absence. They don't generate pressure as often, but they finish plays, and they've shown that they can hold down the fort without him.
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